Everywhere you look, there’s buzz about new AI tools in accounting software— QBO and others are continuing to roll out impressive features that make everyday bookkeeping faster and easier. At Redline Business Advisors, we’re excited about this technology! We actively test and adopt AI tools where they can help us serve you better. But here’s the key: these tools are just that—tools. They don’t run your business, make strategic calls, or understand your unique goals the way we do.

What QuickBooks Online AI Does Well

AI in QuickBooks Online excels at handling the low-hanging fruit of bookkeeping. It can automatically categorize many routine transactions, reconcile accounts in a fraction of the time, flag entries that seem out of place, and generate standard financial reports on demand. This is great news for businesses—it means less time spent on repetitive tasks and more time available for the higher-value planning and strategic insight that truly drive growth.

Where QuickBooks Online AI Falls Short

While QuickBooks Online’s AI is powerful, it can’t replace the nuanced insight that comes from human expertise. It processes data, but it doesn’t truly understand your business or the context behind the numbers—insight that comes only from conversations, experience, and judgment.

Even the most advanced AI in accounting software cannot:

• Spot the “why” behind trends – AI can flag a dip in revenue, but not connect it to seasonal shifts, industry changes, or operational issues.
• Tailor advice to your goals – No algorithm can know when you’re aiming for aggressive growth versus cautious stability.
• Handle one-of-a-kind situations – Unique opportunities and challenges often require judgment that can’t be automated.
• Understand your full business story – Numbers don’t mean much without context, and context comes from conversations and history.

How RBA Recommends Using AI—Don’t Lose the Human Edge!

Think of it this way: AI can bring efficiency, but it should never be the architect of your financial strategy. Our preference is to prioritize the depth of our human experts’ insight and to allow AI to function as a speed boost. If you want to incorporate AI, you must filter its results, check its work, and treat it as nothing more than a springboard for further analysis.

We keep our finger on the pulse of technology so you don’t have to. We are happy to use to new tools to work faster and more precisely, but never at the expense of the human insight that makes your numbers meaningful. At the end of the day, it’s the people at RBA who turn data into direction, and that’s something no algorithm can replace.

P.S. If you want to take advantage of the latest AI tools without falling into their blind spots, let’s talk. We’ll make sure your financial strategy stays human-focused and business-driven.